‘There were some really awful things there:’ Corrie’s Channique Sterling-Brown says she’s faced despicable racial abuse since she was cast but insists she’s ‘proud’ to be part of the first black family of the soap
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Coronation Street star Channique Sterling-Brown has admitted she has faced vile abuse since joining the ITV soap.
The actress, 25, who appeared on screen in September as part of the Bailey clan – the soap’s first-ever black family – of which she is “proud” to be a part of.
But while most fans have welcomed her with open arms, she has faced some negative reactions, with Channique saying “really awful things” have been said to her.
Appalling: Coronation Street star Channique Sterling-Brown has admitted she has faced vile abuse since joining the ITV soap
The beauty shared how some said her casting was just a way of checking the “diversity box,” with Channique pointing out that her participation in the show makes her just one of two black women on the cobblestones.
She said The sun on Sunday: ‘Most people online were so supportive and positive, but unfortunately there was some negativity and a bit of racism.
“There were really awful things that suggested I was part of some ‘black supremacy’ movement, which was just wild, and Twitter really took it out. But there were quite a few comments suggesting that I was cast to tick a “diversity check box” and that it was ridiculous and over the top PC to be on the show.
TV star: The actress, 25, who appeared on screen in September as part of the Bailey clan – the soap’s first-ever black family – of which she is ‘proud’ to be a part of
“That was strange to me, since Dee-Dee’s presence brings the total number of black women on the street to two. That’s why it’s so important to have black actors on our television screens, as well as those who work, write and direct behind the camera.’
Channique, who is also a writer and director, went on to say she feels “incredibly proud” to be a member of the show’s first black family and to be a part of “a little bit of history,” pointing out how “special” it is.
The thespian told how landing a role on the hit soap was “a very drastic change in my life” and spoke of her pride that a young black girl approached her for a photo telling her, “You look like me.”
Shocking: While most fans have welcomed her with open arms, she has faced some negative reactions, with Channique saying “really awful things” have been said to her
Ridiculous: There were quite a few comments suggesting that I was cast to tick a ‘diversity check box’ and that it was ridiculous and over the top PC to be on the show
She added that moment “meaned so much” to her and emphasized the importance of “diversity on screen.”
It comes after show boss Iain MacLeod said prior to Dee-Dee’s arrival on Coronation Street, “She’s just a complete shot in the arm. She is so full of energy and vibrancy and she is just amazing. So I’m very, very excited to see her crash-land in that family’.
“Lots of fun things to play with her as the apple of her mother’s eye, you have sibling rivalry with the boys. And she’s not very familiar with children either’.
Family: Channique, who is also a writer and director, went on to say she feels “incredibly proud” to be a member of the show’s first black family and to be a part of “a little bit of history,” detailing how” special’ it is is (photo, the Bailey family)
He continued: ‘So she has a very comedic relationship with her cousin Glory (Eleanor Beckles) because she doesn’t really know what to do with kids and kind of treats them like they’re one of her clients or maybe they’re right again. ‘.
Before adding, “She’s just this beautiful, generous injection of energy into the middle of that family.”
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV
Praise: It comes after show boss Iain MacLeod said before Dee-Dee’s arrival, ‘She’s just a complete shot in the arm. She’s so full of energy and vibrancy and she’s just amazing’